In 1952, Wedgwood
commissioned a series of 12 wood engravings by the well-known artist Clare
Leighton. These engravings were meant to represent the traditional industries
for which New England was famous, including Whaling (Massachusetts, especially
Nantucket), Marble Quarrying (a Vermont specialty), Lobstering
(associated with Maine), Tobacco Growing (Connecticut), Maple Sugaring (Vermont
and New Hampshire), Cranberrying (Massachusetts), as
well as a variety of traditional activities found in all New England
States, and many other northern or coastal States, including Ship Building,
Logging, Farming, Cod Fishing, Grist Milling and Ice Cutting. The
original twelve wood engravings themselves were produced in a limited edition
of 50 sets, individually numbered and signed by the artist. Wedgwood then
adapted these engravings and transfer printed them onto 10.5 inch dinner
plates. Clare Leighton had a wonderful style all her own, but the strong lines
and sharp contrasts of her work are reminiscent of other master wood block
engravers of the first half of the twentieth century, and her work is often
compared to that of Rockwell Kent.

On the back, the plates are
signed WEDGWOOD, have an impressed datecode for 1952,
and bear a facsimile signature of Clare Leighton. Each also has a brief
description of the activity depicted on the plate. At the bottom of each
engraving, Clare Leighton has depicted a collections of tools associated with that
particular Industry -- lobster traps, whale harpoons, cranberry scoops, and the
like.

All of the plates below are
in EXCELLENT CONDITION (no chips, cracks, repairs, or other significant
damage). None have significant or distracting crazing (tiny lines in the
glaze itself), although it is difficult to find earthenware plates over 50
years old that don't have a little crazing somewhere.

I buy and sell plates in this
series more often than I update this webpage (!), so please inquire about any
plates that you want.If I do not
have it at the time, I will keep your request on file and let you know when I
get the plate(s) that you want.I
am always interested in buying plates in this series, and would like to buy any
of the original limited edition engravings.

You can click on any picture
below to enlarge it; hit the BACK button to return to this page. All
plates in this series are priced at $95 each.

PLEASE include your shipping address (home or
work) in your FIRST email; I cannot confirm the final price (including
shipping) until I know where it is being sent. Click herefor
additional information, including shipping charges and payment methods.